Rescue Race 5K (PR)
This past weekend was going to be a difficult weekend, the Tri I had to miss was on Sunday, but the bigger and more difficult challenge was taking place in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon so Friday night I decided a good way to focus some energy would be to go run in a 5K on Saturday morning.
Back in March I ran what I felt was the best I could ever run. This was the race that benefited some childhood cancer charities, along with being my cousins daughters birthday. What made this imprtant to me is that Kenzie had been diagnosed with Brain Cancer a few weeks before my surgery. As my health and fitness increased that of at the time a beautiful 14 year old girl was declining. Every Year in Las Vegas they have a 5K to support Childhood Cancer, for the Candlelighters. Well my Family formed Team Kenzie in honor of her and had 1200 people show up to the 5K as part of team Kenzie and raised over $16K . Since I was unable to attend this run and be part of Team Kenzie I decided to start dedicating my 5Ks to Kenzie and run them as part of Team Kenzie.
Well Last Monday Kenzie lost her battle with cancer and her memorial was held Saturday. Again I was unable to be with my family in Las Vegas in what is proving to be a difficult time for all. I decided Friday night that it was again time to Run for Team Kenzie and push myself as hard as I could.
Rescue Race was being held at ******* Fairgrounds just a couple miles from my house so I decided this would be a good one to do. I had only logged like 3-4 runs in the past 2-3 weeks, 3 runs were the prior 3 days.
I woke up at my usual time and followed my standard 5K morning routine of Protein Shake and then a bit of Breakfast. Showed up at the fairgrounds early enough to make sure I could register and have time to stretch and just chillout.
Race Started at 8:00 and it was in the low to mid 70s so things were feeling good as I started my Linkin Park Playlist and began to run. Living in North GA is a beautiful place unless you have to run or bike it as I doubt there is a flat area around, good news is for everytime you have to run uphill you get to run downhill.
I started out at what I though was a comortable pace and didn't even look at my garmin to see what my pace was, instead I just thought about my family and the pain they/we had all gone through over the past few weeks/months. As I hit mile 1 I looked down to see that I was running a 9:30 pace, unless I am on a treadmill I am terrible at maintaining this type of pace especially in the first mile. I focused on someone that was in front of me and appeared to be running the same pace so I just stuck with them until they slowed down then I would focus on the next one up. Like I said the nice thing about having to run aup all the hills especially the one at the start is that you get to run down them and with one being at the finish I I gave it everything I had left. I ignored the burn and wobbliness in my legs and just focused on making good solid strides as fast as I could. Rounding the last curve I could see the finish line I saw the race clock was still under 30 minutes so I pushed even harder.
I Crossed the finish line at 29:04 pushing 8.7mph (Huge for my little legs).
My Splits were:
Mile 1: 9:30
Mile 2: 9:49
Mile 3: 9:13
I felt that even though I would be unable to be at the memorial that my family would appreciate my Tribute to our family member who had inspired so many people to live and enjoy their lives.
OH Yea she inspired me to a new PR too.
Back in March I ran what I felt was the best I could ever run. This was the race that benefited some childhood cancer charities, along with being my cousins daughters birthday. What made this imprtant to me is that Kenzie had been diagnosed with Brain Cancer a few weeks before my surgery. As my health and fitness increased that of at the time a beautiful 14 year old girl was declining. Every Year in Las Vegas they have a 5K to support Childhood Cancer, for the Candlelighters. Well my Family formed Team Kenzie in honor of her and had 1200 people show up to the 5K as part of team Kenzie and raised over $16K . Since I was unable to attend this run and be part of Team Kenzie I decided to start dedicating my 5Ks to Kenzie and run them as part of Team Kenzie.
Well Last Monday Kenzie lost her battle with cancer and her memorial was held Saturday. Again I was unable to be with my family in Las Vegas in what is proving to be a difficult time for all. I decided Friday night that it was again time to Run for Team Kenzie and push myself as hard as I could.
Rescue Race was being held at ******* Fairgrounds just a couple miles from my house so I decided this would be a good one to do. I had only logged like 3-4 runs in the past 2-3 weeks, 3 runs were the prior 3 days.
I woke up at my usual time and followed my standard 5K morning routine of Protein Shake and then a bit of Breakfast. Showed up at the fairgrounds early enough to make sure I could register and have time to stretch and just chillout.
Race Started at 8:00 and it was in the low to mid 70s so things were feeling good as I started my Linkin Park Playlist and began to run. Living in North GA is a beautiful place unless you have to run or bike it as I doubt there is a flat area around, good news is for everytime you have to run uphill you get to run downhill.
I started out at what I though was a comortable pace and didn't even look at my garmin to see what my pace was, instead I just thought about my family and the pain they/we had all gone through over the past few weeks/months. As I hit mile 1 I looked down to see that I was running a 9:30 pace, unless I am on a treadmill I am terrible at maintaining this type of pace especially in the first mile. I focused on someone that was in front of me and appeared to be running the same pace so I just stuck with them until they slowed down then I would focus on the next one up. Like I said the nice thing about having to run aup all the hills especially the one at the start is that you get to run down them and with one being at the finish I I gave it everything I had left. I ignored the burn and wobbliness in my legs and just focused on making good solid strides as fast as I could. Rounding the last curve I could see the finish line I saw the race clock was still under 30 minutes so I pushed even harder.
I Crossed the finish line at 29:04 pushing 8.7mph (Huge for my little legs).
My Splits were:
Mile 1: 9:30
Mile 2: 9:49
Mile 3: 9:13
I felt that even though I would be unable to be at the memorial that my family would appreciate my Tribute to our family member who had inspired so many people to live and enjoy their lives.
OH Yea she inspired me to a new PR too.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
My condolences on a terrible loss to your family. I'm sure Kenzie was very proud of your great effort on Saturday, and we are all touched by your tribute to her!
*hugs*
*hugs*
Read my blog, BARIATHLETE I run because I can.
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
I am so sorry for your family's loss. It is so sad when such a young person is taken from us. I am sure she would be so proud of all you have accomplished. Congratulations on the new PR. I think it was a beautiful tribute.
Jan
Jan
Bay to Breakers 12K May 15, 2011 (1:54:40) First 5K 5/23/11 (41:22)
Half Marathons: Napa: 7/18/10 (4:11:21) 7/17/11 (3:30:58) 7/15/12 (3:13:11.5)
SJ Rock and Roll: 10/2/10 (3:58:22) Run Surf City: 2/6/11 (3:19:54)
Diva: 5/6/12 (3:35:00)
HW/SW/CW 349/326/176
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein
Half Marathons: Napa: 7/18/10 (4:11:21) 7/17/11 (3:30:58) 7/15/12 (3:13:11.5)
SJ Rock and Roll: 10/2/10 (3:58:22) Run Surf City: 2/6/11 (3:19:54)
Diva: 5/6/12 (3:35:00)
HW/SW/CW 349/326/176
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein
Sorry for your loss of such a young person. Your tribute was awesome. Glad you could share with your family even though you could not be in LV.
Jay
First 5K 5/21/2011 00:48:24
First 13 mile run 02:31:39 10/30/2011
5K Race PR 24:38 5/2013
First TRIATHLON 1:48:37 5/7/2012
Augusta Ironman 70.3 6:54:67
Half Marathon PR 1:55:39 6/8/2013 Bootlegger Half Marathon
i'm so sorry to hear about kenzie, such a sad story to hear about somebody so young losing a battle with cancer. i'm glad you were able to get out there and clear your head in the race, for me at least, training and racing can be very therapeutic. congrats again on the PR, i just rode by the fairgrounds yesterday on my long ride, that must have been a hilly race, there really aren't any flat sections unless you are running around the parking lot.
Where are we going?? And why am I in this handbasket??
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
Paul - I don't know what you do in real life but you could easily be a writer; I love to read your posts because there is always some real human emotion in them. Thank you for sharing and please accept my condolences to you and your family. Dealing with the loss of one so young and vibrant has to be heartbreaking.
KUDOs to you for knocking out that PR in the 5k this weekend; you certainly had inspiration, motivation, determiniation to cover the course. Yay for Team Kenzie!!
KUDOs to you for knocking out that PR in the 5k this weekend; you certainly had inspiration, motivation, determiniation to cover the course. Yay for Team Kenzie!!
I am creating my own revolution and PAMdemonium reigns!
RNY 11/16/2010
SW 270, CW 155, GW 135
1st 5k time 40:34 (Dec 2013)
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